Blanche Thebom

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Mezzo-soprano Blanche Thebom was a mainstay at the Metropolitan Opera for decades.

Thebom performed more than 350 times at the Met from 1944 to 1967. She built a second career as a teacher, first at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, and then in San Francisco.

She was part of a mid-century wave of American opera singers to gain international fame and was best known for her Wagner performances, including roles as Brangane in "Tristan und Isolde" and Fricka in "Die Walkure."

During her long career at the Met, she was also know for performances as Amneris in "Aida," Marina in "Boris Godunov," Prince Orlofsky in "Die Fledermaus," Herodias in "Salome" and Adelaide in "Arabella."

Thebom also toured throughout Europe and was the first American to perform at Moscow's Bolshoi Opera.

She also sang in such films as "Irish Eyes Are Smiling” in 1944 and "The Great Caruso" in 1951.

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One thought about Blanche Thebom

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While a design student at The Ohio State University, our design organization, NSID, was invited to New York by Internationally famous designer Melanie Kahane. We had coctails at the townhouse she and her husband, Ben Grauer shared. She was a friend of Blanche Thebom and arranged tickets for the class to see Blanche Thebom perform at the Met. After the performance, Mrs Thebom invited us to her apartment for dinner, which she cooked. When we arrived, she was tossing a gigantic Caesar salad, and told us to help ourselves to the bar. It was a magical evening, one which I will never forget. She was a very down to earth, wonderful lady, and an incredible opera star. Thanks for the opportunity to share this. Jim Maurer

”— James F. Maurer, March 30, 2010 at 8:21 p.m.

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